The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

The absorbing story of the first
girl to join a fictional military high school.

Sam comes from a thoroughly military
family, her father a legendary colonel who has raised all his kids as though
they were in boot camp. Sam faces worse than that when she enters the Denmark
Military Academy on a dare. Her fellow “recruits” don’t want her there and
remain determined to make her quit, and her squad leader, Cpl. Matthews, has
apparently taken it upon himself to force her out. Even her own brother, the cadet
colonel of the school, tells her to leave. Sam keeps up with most of the boys
in their obstacle courses, marches and calisthenics, but when Matthews becomes
increasingly abusive, as tough as she is, Sam struggles to hang on. Sam finds
allies, especially in her drill sergeant, to whom she feels an enormous
attraction. When she learns that a secret society lies behind the attacks
against her, she fears for her life. Hensley keeps the tension high as she
leads readers to anticipate the next attack on Sam. The narrative flows along
terrifically as Sam courageously battles to make it even while the forces
against her increase. The characters stand out as individual and real; readers will cheer Sam on throughout.

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